FERC-561, Annual Report of Interlocking Directorates

OMB Control No: 1902-0099	ICR Reference No: 201105-1902-002
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 200804-1902-011
Agency/Subagency: FERC	Agency Tracking No: FERC-561
Title: FERC-561, Annual Report of Interlocking Directorates
Type of Information Collection: Extension without change of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved with change	Conclusion Date: 08/17/2011
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)	Date Received in OIRA: 06/22/2011
Terms of Clearance: In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved for three years.

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	08/31/2014	36 Months From Approved	08/31/2011
Responses	2,431	0	1,996
Time Burden (Hours)	608	0	499
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: The information the Commission collects with Form 561 responds to the FPA requirements for annual reporting of similar types of positions public utility officers and directors hold with financial institutions, insurance companies, utility equipment and fuel providers, and with any of an electric utility's twenty largest purchasers of electric energy. The FPA specifically defines most of the information elements in the Form 561, including the information that must be filed, the required filers, the directive to make the information available to the public, and the filing deadline. The Commission determined administrative aspects of the Form 561 such as the filing format and instructions for filling out the form. The information collected by the Commission through the Form 561 is used to implement the FPA requirement that those who are authorized to hold interlocked directorates annually disclose all the interlocked positions they held the prior year. The Form 561 data identifies persons holding interlocking positions between public utilities and other entities, allows the Commission to review these and permits identification of possible conflicts of interest.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 16 USC 825(d) Name of Law: Federal Power Act

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	76 FR 12091	02/24/2011
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	76 FR 34217	06/13/2011
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? Yes

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title Form No. Form Name Annual Report of Interlocking Directorates FERC Form 561 Annual Report of Interlocking Directorates

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	2,431	1,996	0	0	435	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	608	499	0	0	109	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Increase Due to:

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: The increase in the estimated number of FERC-561 filers is due to the Commission using a more robust accounting method in determining the actual number of filers per year. Prior estimates had failed to account properly for the actual number of filers and thus had been consistently low. For example, one filer may submit one file to the Commission that contains the Form 561 for 50 unique entities. In the past this was only counted as one respondent.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $143,947

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Is the Supporting Statement intended to be a Privacy Impact Assessment required by the E-Government Act of 2002? No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

Agency Contact: Norma McOmber 202 502-8022

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Common Form ICR:  No

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On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
		(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;
		(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;
		(c) It reduces burden on small entities;
		(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;
		(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;
		(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;
		(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:
			(i) Why the information is being collected;
			(ii) Use of information;
			(iii) Burden estimate;
			(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
			(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
			(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
		(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.
		(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and
		(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Certification Date: 06/22/2011

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